Furnace-charging device



D 1964 F. TOCHER ETAL FURNACE-CHARGING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS:

ATTORNEY Dec. 8, 1964 F. L. TOCHER ETAL 3,150,296

FURNACE-CHARGING DEVICE Filed June 14, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Z-iII J Ir. .7 I

United States Patent Ofilice amazes Patented Dec. 8, 1964 York FiledJune 14, 1962, Ser. No. 202,621 8 Claims. (Cl. 214-18) This inventionrelates to a device which is useful, for example, in efficiently andeconomically handling scrap metal and other solid material and incharging such materials into a furnace or converter in which metal is toundergo refining. It relates, more particularly, to such a device whichis suitable for charging such materials into a furnace or converterhaving an upwardly opening charging mouth for receiving material fromelongate containers having an endwisely discharging chute or opening,the terms furnace and converter being interchangeably used herein. Suchconverters have come into use in connection with oxygen processing ofmolten iron into steel. One type of such converter is disclosed, forexample, in United States Patent No. 3,013,789, dated December 19, 1961.

An important object of this invention is the provision of a device whichmay handle scrap or other solid materials more efliciently and maycharge such materials into a converter more rapidly than meansheretofore provided for similar purposes. Such rapid charging isimportant, not merely in consideration of charging alone, but reductionof the duration of a charging operation minimizes heat losses from theconverter during charging of the latter.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of asolid-materials handling device of such character that it operates veryefficiently and economically with related plant equipment presently inuse, thereby acquiring increased production from such present equipment.

Another important object of this invention is the provisionv of asolid-materials charging device which may be shifted readily from placeto place within a steel plant by existing crane equipment and which hasplural material containers and means for dumping them sequentially intoa converter very rapidly to achieve much faster converter charging thanhither-to.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of animproved solid-materials handling device which may coact with a cranebeam to be held stable while being moved from place to place by thecrane in a plant.

This invention is described herein, for convenience, as utilized in theprocessing of molten iron into steel, without, however, limiting theinvention to such use. Also, such solid-materials containers arehereinafter referred to, for convenience, merely as boxes or scrapboxes.

The mentioned and other more or less obvious objects are achieved by adevice, according to this invention, which, referring only to thebroader features thereof, comprises a frame which may rest on a floor orothergenerally horizontal surface and has a stud or equivalent meansengageable by a crane hook or the like by which the frame may be liftedfrom the door. The base is pro vided with an upright column having meansat its upper end engageable with a horizontal surface, usually an UH:dersurface of a crane beam, to stabilize the device when it is beingmoved by the crane. Also, pivoted on the base areplural boxes, and meansassociated with the column for tilting said boxes separately to dumptheir contents into a converter. The crane or equivalent means may serveto shift the frame as needed to bring the several boxes sequentiallyinto charging position in relation to the converter.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the furnace-charging device, as fullylifted by a related crane, looking at the discharging ends of threesimilar scrap boxes in the device, and showing the latter as usedwithout doors on said boxes.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 22 of FIG.1, but showing a door such as may be used on the boxes.

FIG. 3' is a detail view shown in vertical section sub stantially on theline 33 of FIG. 2.

This invention may best be understood by reference to FIG. 2 wherein isshown a rigid frame comprising a horizontal base lit, upright columns12, a motor platform 14-, supported on the base by one or more uprightsupport members 16 (only one being shown) reinforced by rigid struts 18and 2t and upright tackle-engaging brackets 22. All the mentioned partsof the frame are suitably interconnected, as illustrated, as by rivetingand/ or welding.

As shown in FIG. 1, the base 10 is of such substantial width astoaccommodate three scrap boxes 24 thereon in side-by-side spacedrelationship and may rest in a very stable condition upon a floorsurface or the like. columns 12, each advantageously comprising a pairof uprights 12a and 12b, are rigidly interconnected at their top ends bya cross-beam 26, and toward each end of the latter is provided aninverted trolley consisting of a pair of rollers 28 working on axles 30extending between bracket plates 32 fixed to the beam 26. These rollers,as hereinafter explained, are in rolling engagement with the undersideof crane beams 34, when the device is fully elevated, to stabilize theframe during certain movements and operations thereof.

The scrap boxes 2.4, as illustrated, are alike and of generallysemi-cylindrical shape. Each of these boxes has upright bracket plates36 welded or otherwise suitably fixed thereto toward opposite sides andtoward the front or mouth ends thereof and these plates, at lowerextremities thereof, are pivoted at 38 to longitudinal beams 43 whichconstitute parts of the base 10. This pivotal mount-' ing enables theboxes 24 to be pivoted between a normal horizontal position and a tilteddischarging position as shown in full and broken lines respectively inFIG. 2.

At its rear end, each box 24 is provided with an integral rigid bracket42 serving as a foot for supporting the box in a horizontal positionupon the base 10. V

The back end of each box is closed by a fixed back wall 44, and thefront end of each box may be open or, if desired, may be provided with adoor 46 hinged to the top of the box at 48 and may be held closedagainst the bottom of the box by a suitable latch 55).

Means for tilting each box forwardly to discharge its contents bygravity are associated with related column 12, and comprise a draftmember in the form of a pair of sprocket chains 52, 52:: working onsprockets 54, 54a, 56 and 56a. The sprockets 54, 54a are keyed upon acommon shaft 53, suitably borne in the upper ends of uprights 12a and12b and driven through trans-. mission means illustrated as comprising asprocket type, drive chain 59 working on a driven sprocket oil keyed toshaft 58 and a driving sprocket d2 keyed upon the out: put shaft 64 of aspeed reducer 65 which is driven by a suitable, reversible motor 655through a drive-shaft con- (not shown) may be provided for shifting theshaft '72 The success vertically to enable the tension of the chains 52,52a to be tightened to the proper extent.

The two chains 52 5241 are unified by a box-like link;

74 (best shown in FIG. 3) within which two rollers '76 are mounted forfreev rotation upon stub shafts 73; these rollers being so spaced as toaccommodate between them, preferably with an accurate lit, a lug in theform of an arcua'te. tongue 89 which is rigid with the bracket 42forming the foot at the rear of the box 24. When the motor 6% isoperated to cause the link '74 to rise, the tongue 89 is drawn upwardlywhile sliding within said link, causing thebox 24 to be tilted asindicated in broken lines in FIG. 2.

of the device either in its loaded or unloaded condition.

As iswell understood by those familiar with this art, an overhead,traveling crane, of a character'commonly used in steel and other plants,comprises a pair of spaced beam members, such as indicated at 34,arranged at their ends to ride along elevated crane-way track members(not shown). These beam members provide tracks for a tackle-trolley(also not shown) which may move along said beam members, transversely ofthe crane-way. The tackle-trolley carries means for uniformly taking upand paying out separate cables $3 in unison. These cables work inseparate sheave blocks 9%? each of which carries a pivotally suspendedhook 92. I

Suitable shield plates 98 may be provided on the columns 12, between thelatter and the boxes 24- to protect said columns and the chains 52, 52::from damage during use of the device; these plates having vertical slots1% to accommodate the vertically movable tongues 80.

By reason of the uniform operation of the cables in unison, the hooks $2remain in substantially unchanging interrelationship. The hooks areapplied tothe two studs 34 which are spaced substantially similarly tothespacing between the two cables so that, when the crane lifts thedevice, the latter is effectively held against material oscillationabout a vertical axis.

The device normally rests in a substantially horizontal position upon afloor or equivalent surface (not shown), to receive scrap and/or othersolid materials in the plural boxes 2 to fill the latter, the doors(if-such doors are provided), meanwhile, being latched closed.

An overhead crane then moves into position above the device and thecranes hooks b2 are lowered and positioned in lifting relation to thestuds 84. Then, the

crane lifts-the device to bring and hold the rollers 28" firmly againstthe -iiat undersurfaces of the cranes two beams 34, thereby stabilizingthe device against material swinging.

While thus held stable, the device is moved by the crane to a positionabove and toward one side of a converter into which the contents of theseveral boxes 24 are to be charged. Then, the crane lowers the devicetoapproximately its relationship indicated in FIG. 2, to the mouth 94 of afragmen'tarily shown converter 96, the crane and the device carriedthereby being shifted to the extent necessary to bring one of the boxes24, preferably an end box, into proper charging juxtaposition to theconverters mouth. 1

Then, after release'of latch 58, the motor 63, related V The tongue 8%is formed with a stop lug 82 at its free end to assure contents togravitate through the mouth 94 into the converter )6. Then, the motor 68is reversely operated to restore the empty box to horizontal position,its door again held closed by thelatch 59.

The other boxes,: seriatim, are shifted by the crane into chargingrelation to the converter, are discharged thercinto and restoredtojtheir horizontalattitudes in the manner described. After all boxeshave been emptied, the device is preferably again lifted to stabilizedengagement with the crane beams 34 and carried back to a station atwhich the device is again employed for charging purposes in the mannerdescribed. It will be understood that convertercharging, as justdescribed, is much more rapid than if boxes of the greatest practicalsize are separately carried to a converter for charging scrap "into thelatter.

It preferably has two in FIG. 2, the charging device is illustrated, forconvienience, as being in stabilized engagement with crane beam 34 andalso in charging position in relation to the converter 96. Someplantsmay be so arranged that said two relationships are coexistent;however, the described converter charging canbe satisfactorily performedby the disclosed apparatus even after thedevice has been lowered to someextent by the crane, as hereinbefore explained.

The provision of separate motors, 68 for tilting the boxes 24 is aconvenient arrangement, but it will be realized that an alternativearrangement could employ a single motor and separately operable clutchesdrivin gly connecting the motor selectively to the chains or 6(1111Y'alent means of the several boxes.

It should be obvious that the concepts disclosed herein may be employedin various other ways Without, however, departing'from the invention asset forth in the following claims. I V We claim:

1. A furnace-charging device comprising a liftable frame adapted to reston a generally horizontal surface and having lifting-lug means adaptedfor engagement by independent lifting means to enable the frame tobelifted from said surface, plural boxes separately pivoted to said aframe for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, and sepasaid tonguehaving a lug on its free end adapted to abut V to that one box, isoperated to cause the chain 52 to rate tilting means for each of saidboxes, carried by said frame and coacting. separately with said boxes topivot and thereby tilt the latter, said tilting means comprising, foreach of said boxes, an upright column constituting a part of said frame,a movable endless chain carried by said column, and plural wheels,mounted for rotation on said frame, coacting with said chain to guidethe latter in a fixed course of linear movement, one of said wheels,

being located at an upper portion of said column and a lifting portionof saidch'ain extending substantially vertically to said one wheel andhaving a lifting -link;'the tiling means further comprising a lifting,tongue rigidly integral with a related box and extending rearwardlythereof into lifting engagement with said link, and a motor opera-'tively connected to said chain to linearly move the latter. 2. Afurnace-charging device \according to claim 1, said lifting link havingan opening through which said lifting tongue extends and in which saidtongue is movable during linear movement of said chain.

3.A furnace-charging device according to claim 2,

said lifting link to oppose disassociation of said tongue from saidlink.

' 4. A furnace-charging device comprising a liftable frame adapted torest on a generally horizontal surface by tilt the latter, and a motorcarried by said frame, and

said tilting means, for each of said boxes, comprising a lifting tongue,rigid with said box and projecting rearwardly therefrom, upright columnmeans rigid with said frame, a draft member guided within said columnmeans in sliding, tilting engagement with said tongue, and extendingupwardly therefrom into moving engagement with an upper portion of saidcolumn means, and transmission means operatively-arranged between saidmotor, on the one hand, and upper portions of said column means and saiddraft member, on the other hand, and adapted to move said draft memberupwardly to tilt the related box.

'5. A furnace-charging device comprising a liftable frame adapted torest on a generally horizontal surface and having lifting-lug meansadapted for engagement by independent lifting means to enable the frameto be lifted from said surface, plural boxes separately pivoted to saidframe for pivotal movement in a vertical plane, separate tilting meansfor each of said boxes, carried by said frame and coacting separatelywith said boxes to pivot and thereby tilt the latter, and a motorcarried by said frame, and said tilting means, for each of said boxes,comprising a lifting tongue, rigid with said box and projectingrearwardly therefrom, upright column means rigid with said frame, adraft member guided said column means in sliding, tilting engagementwith said tongue and extending upwardly therefrom into moving engagementwith an upper portion of said column means, and transmission meansoperatively arranged between said motor, on the one hand, and upperportions of said column means and said draft member, on the other hand,and adapted to move said draft member upwardly to tilt the related box,said device further com-prising steadying means, toward furthercomprising, in combination, a crane beam having 0 a fiat horizontalundersurface, the latter constituting the the upper end of said columnand wider than the latter,

7. A furnace-charging device according to claim 5,

mentioned non-vertically mlovable surface, and vertically movablecrane-hook means; said hook means being engageable with the device abovethe latters center of gravity to lift the device sufiiciently toestablish and maintain said firm steadying contact of said steadyingmeans with said undersurface.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein said boxes are inside-by-side relationship, said lifting-lug means comprise a pair ofspaced lifting lugs on said frame toward one end of the latter and at afirstline normal to said boxes, said column means are disposedrearwardly of said boxes toward the opposite end of the frame and, atupper end portions, ex-tendtransversely of said boxes, said-steadyingmeans being provided on said column means at two spaced points at asecond line substantially parallel to said first line, the combinationincluding a spaced pair of said crane beams separately contactable withsaid steadying means at said two spaced points, and a spaced pair ofsaid crane hooks separately engageable with said lifting lugs, wherebyto lift and steady said device without material turning of the deviceabout a vertical axis.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,029 3/17Williams. 2,622,924 12/52 Helz.

7 2,836,309 5/58 McFeaters 214--18 3,107,797 10/63 McFeaters et a1.214l8 3,115,336 12/63 Longcnecker 21418 X FOREIGN PATENTS 340,274 9/21Germany.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner. ERNEST A. FALLER, JR., Examiner.

1. A FURNACE-CHARGING DEVICE COMPRISING A LIFTABLE FRAME ADAPTED TO RESTON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SURFACE AND HAVING LIFTING-LUG MEANS ADAPTEDFOR ENGAGEMENT BY INDEPENDENT LIFTING MEANS TO ENABLE THE FRAME TO BELIFTED FROM SAID SURFACE, PLURAL BOXES SEPARATELY PIVOTED TO SAID FRAMEFOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE, AND SEPARATE TILTING MEANS FOREACH OF SAID BOXES, CARRIED BY SAID FRAME AND COACTING SEPARATELY WITHSAID BOXES TO PIVOT AND THEREBY TILT THE LATTER, SAID TILTING MEANSCOMPRISING, FOR EACH OF SAID BOXES, AN UPRIGHT COLUMN CONSTITUTING APART OF SAID FRAME, A MOVABLE ENDLESS CHAIN CARRIED BY SAID COLUMN, ANDPLURAL WHEELS, MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON SAID FRAME, COACTING WITH SAIDCHAIN TO GUIDE THE LATTER IN A FIXED COURSE OF LINEAR MOVEMENT, ONE OFSAID WHEELS BEING LOCATED AT AN UPPER PORTION OF SAID COLUMN AND ALIFTING PORTION OF SAID CHAIN EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY TO SAIDONE WHEEL AND HAVING A LIFTING LINK; THE TILTING MEANS FURTHERCOMPRISING A LIFTING TONGUE RIGIDLY INTEGRAL WITH A RELATED BOX ANDEXTENDING REARWARDLY THEREOF